Neher, Ina, Crewell, Susanne
ORCID: 0000-0003-1251-5805, Meilinger, Stefanie, Pfeifroth, Uwe and Trentmann, Joerg
(2020).
Photovoltaic power potential in West Africa using long-term satellite data.
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20 (21).
S. 12871 - 12889.
GOTTINGEN:
COPERNICUS GESELLSCHAFT MBH.
ISSN 1680-7324
Abstract
This paper addresses long-term historical changes in solar irradiance in West Africa (3 to 20 degrees N and 20 degrees W to 16 degrees E) and the implications for photovoltaic systems. Here, we use satellite irradiance (Surface Solar Radiation Data Set - Heliosat, Edition 2.1 - SARAH-2.1) and temperature data from a reanalysis (ERA5) to derive photovoltaic yields. Based on 35 years of data (1983-2017), the temporal and regional variability as well as long-term trends in global and direct horizontal irradiance are analyzed. Furthermore, a detailed time series analysis is undertaken at four locations. According to the high spatial resolution SARAH-2.1 data record (0.05 degrees x 0.05 degrees), solar irradiance is largest (up to a 300Wm(-2) daily average) in the Sahara and the Sahel zone with a positive trend (up to 5 W m(-2) per decade) and a lower temporal variability (< 75 W m(-2) between 1983 and 2017 for daily averages). In contrast, the solar irradiance is lower in southern West Africa (between 200 W m-(2) and 250 W m(-2)) with a negative trend (up to 5 W m 2 per decade) and a higher temporal variability (up to 150 W m(-2)). The positive trend in the north is mostly connected to the dry season, whereas the negative trend in the south occurs during the wet season. Both trends show 95% significance. Photovoltaic (PV) yields show a strong meridional gradient with the lowest values of around 4 kWh kWp(-1) in southern West Africa and values of more than 5.5 kWh kWp(-1) in the Sahara and Sahel zone.
| Item Type: | Article |
| Creators: | Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Neher, Ina UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Meilinger, Stefanie UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Pfeifroth, Uwe UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Trentmann, Joerg UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED |
| URN: | urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-312050 |
| Identification Number: | 10.5194/acp-20-12871-2020 |
| Journal or Publication Title: | Atmos. Chem. Phys. |
| Volume: | 20 |
| Number: | 21 |
| Page Range: | S. 12871 - 12889 |
| Date: | 2020 |
| Publisher: | COPERNICUS GESELLSCHAFT MBH |
| Place of Publication: | GOTTINGEN |
| ISSN: | 1680-7324 |
| Language: | English |
| Faculty: | Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences > Department of Geosciences > Institute for Geophysics and Meteorology |
| Subjects: | no entry |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Keywords Language LOW-LEVEL CLOUDS; DUST EMISSION; MONSOON; AERONET; ALGORITHM; DYNAMICS; NETWORK; PROJECT Multiple languages Environmental Sciences; Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences Multiple languages |
| URI: | http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/31205 |
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https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1251-5805